Abstract
This paper presents the first report of rabies in three bat species, Molossus molossus, Molossops neglectus and Myotis riparius in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Bats were diagnosed as positive for rabies using the fluorescent antibody test and mouse inoculation test. The isolates were characterized antigenically using a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies. The samples were also genetically analyzed by partial sequencing of the portion of nucleoprotein gene between positions 1157 and 1445 nt. Analysis of the results verified that the sample isolated from the species M. molossus presented antigenic variant 6, while the other two samples showed a different profile from that established in the panel, one not previously reported in the literature. The results of genetic analysis revealed that the M. molossus sample segregated with Lasiurus sp. isolates, M. neglectus segregated with a subgroup of Eptesicus furinalis isolates and the Myotis riparius sample segregated with Myotis sp. isolates. The cases reported in this paper emphasize the need for clarification of the circumstances in which cases of rabies in wildlife occur, principally in urban areas.
Highlights
This paper presents the first report of rabies in three bat species, Molossus molossus, Molossops neglectus and Myotis riparius in the city of São Paulo, Brazil
This study reported the first occurrence of rabies in three bat species, two belonging to the Molossidae family (Molossus molossus and Molossops neglectus) and one to the Vespertilionidae family (Myotis riparius)
Of the bats diagnosed as positive for rabies in the city of São Paulo from 1988 to 2009, 38 (82.6%) were found or captured in atypical circumstances and at unusual times, such as on the ground, inside residences and hanging in buildings, including the three positive cases reported in this paper and 8 (17.4%) were captured while roosting in roofs
Summary
This paper presents the first report of rabies in three bat species, Molossus molossus, Molossops neglectus and Myotis riparius in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Bats were diagnosed as positive for rabies using the fluorescent antibody test and mouse inoculation test. The isolates were characterized antigenically using a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies. Results: Analysis of the results verified that the sample isolated from the species M. molossus presented antigenic variant 6, while the other two samples showed a different profile from that established in the panel, one not previously reported in the literature. The city of São Paulo registered the presence of about 40 bats species with different feeding habits, of which 62% belong to the family Molossidae, 20% are Phyllostomidae and 8% are Vespertilionidae[5]. As in most Brazilian cities, about 70% of specimens forwarded for rabies diagnoses in this city have insectivorous feeding habits
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